SLAC honored for community service

SLAC will receive the Golden Acorn award for
community service for the year 2000 from the
Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce. SLAC was
recognized for its longstanding commitment to the
chamber, for being a member for more than 30
years and for service to the community in
education, charity and the environment. The
Chamber of Commerce will present the award May 11
at an annual awards dinner.

Education has been a prime focus of many of
SLAC's community activities. More than half of
the 10,000 visitors who tour SLAC each year are
school-aged children. SLAC donates surplus
equipment to public schools for reuse and
recycling. Scientists, engineers and others
routinely donate time to schools as guest
speakers.

Educational activities at SLAC include job
training for the disadvantaged, including summer
work-study programs and apprenticeships. Much of
the credit for these early programs goes to Doug
Dupen, past Human Resources manager. "SLAC
was so far out of town that in addition to the
job training programs, we had to arrange
transportation as well so people could get to
work," said Dupen. "And this was before
the word carpool was even in the
language."

Throughout the year, SLAC contributes to the
community's needy. Four times a year, the
Stanford Blood Bank sets up operations in the
SLAC auditorium lobby and about 300 people donate
blood. The food and toy drive each holiday season
nets close to 1,000 pounds of food and several
boxes of toys. Frequent travelers donate
hotel-size shampoos and soaps to Menlo Park
organizations such as Haven House, a transitional
shelter for the homeless, and the Boys and Girls
Club.

"We recognize the need to be involved in
the community and be a part of the neighborhood.
SLAC does important work in basic research that
will make a difference in the lives of our
children and grandchildren," said SLAC
Director Jonathan Dorfan. "But we also want
our community efforts to make a difference in the
present and we are delighted that our activities
are appreciated."